Paper grain II

In a earlier blog I talked about how 8.5 x 11 is standard and all papers are purchased to get the most out of an 8.5 x 11.

When we buy paper we purchase sizes like 25 x 38 or 23 x 35 and various other sizes like this. The one item which is not know to the public is the bigger measurement 38 or 35 is the grain direction of the paper, and since most presses are 26 x 40 grain direction does not come into effect on a daily basis. Until the designer makes up a odd size, like 7 x 15 which fold down to a 5 x 7.

We have choices if I cut the 15 out of the 38 we get 2 out, and the 7 goes into the 25 3 times meaning we are getting 6 pieces out of a press sheet.

But the piece is layed out CROSS GRAIN!!!!!

Now as a printing firm we have to look at this piece different. We have to look at this first will there be any paper stretch? YES but not too bad, but the one big item we have to look at is CRACKING and does the job need to be scored? YES due to we are folding against the grain and the sheet will break when folded. I will also break when scored, but we are helping the score.

This is one of 1 million options when we look at paper and what we produce.

We will always get paper stretch as we smash the sheet, but we also will fold and do all kinds of stuff to a piece of paper to get the design you want.

To fix this it is better we run the folds with the grain, but we only get 3 out of a sheet and from there the price went up due to buying more paper.

It is not an easy decision

Alan